This season will be a unique one filled with twists and turns. Aside from the compact schedule, which will include the first time in league history that teams will play four consecutive games against the same opponent within a regular season, COVID-19 has and will impact things. Divisions have already been realigned based on geographic locations, with one containing just Canadian teams because of a travel ban between the U.S. and Canada. And the NHL is expecting more games to be postponed; the Stars’ first three games — two against the Panthers and one against the Lightning — have been postponed because of 17 players testing positive.
The postseason has also been tweaked, with the four top teams in each division advancing to the playoffs and the No. 1 team playing No. 4 and No. 2 playing No. 3. The winners then face off, with the champ of the division meeting the other four winners in a re-seeded semifinal before the Stanley Cup Final.
NHL SCHEDULE CHANGES: List of games postponed, rescheduled because of COVID-19
Normally, the road to the Stanley Cup is a long, twisting, curving one with never-ending potholes — this year will be extra winding but it will end with the same result: a Stanley Cup champion. Who will be there is the greatest mystery. The tight schedule this year makes it even more critical to get off to a good start while avoiding losing streaks throughout the season. Predicting what will be is always a tricky concept, but it’s time to look into the future and see who will make the 2021 season one to remember.
NHL predictions for 2021
Awards
East Division
Central Division
West Division
North Division
*Presidents’ Trophy: Avalanche
Playoffs
East bracket
Central bracket
West bracket
North bracket
Semifinals
Teams are re-seeded based on points from the regular season.
Stanley Cup Final
